The hazard cameras onboard Curiosity can give a valuable low angle view of the ground surface in front of the rover. Here we see the small ridge of dust and sand that we will scoop for our imminent experiments. Dust can be useful as well as a nuisance. Because it is fine grained it […]
We are getting excellent close up images with MAHLI of the rocks underneath us at the rim of Glenelg. Soon we will pause to scoop a fine-grained sample for our XRD experiment. The MAHLI image here (width about 4 cm) shows an area free of dust. Dust covering is a problem for a variety of Mars […]
We are closer to the descent into the lower area of Glenelg. The rock type around Curiosity has changed from the fluvial gravels and we are using the robotic arm to study it. At the same time we are getting glimpses into the lower area of Glenelg, which has led to a lot of discussion. […]
A group us have been on a field trip between the San Andreas and San Gabriel faults, about an hour’s drive north of JPL. Movement between these faults within the last 10 million years created a large basin filled with alluvial and marine sediments. This is stimulating for our current science discussions about the outcrops […]
We have travelled 50 metres in one sol, a new record and a great help for achieving the mission aims. We are also considering data on our calibration rock target. One of the things we will do with such rock analyses is compare them to other martian igneous rocks (meteorites, clasts analysed by previous landers). This […]
We are now getting a combination of the high resolution MAHLI images, APXS and ChemCam compositional data and the other camera images. The image shows a close up view (about 4 cm across) of the rock Jake_ Matijevic. We can resolve grains that are tens of microns across. The surface of this rock has been […]
Mankind versus Machine #3 We visit the Mars Yard in JPL where the Curiosity engineering model is tested over rocky terrains. You can see how the 6 wheel suspension of the 3 metre long Curiosity rover allows it to go over large rocks if necessary. Without the need to provide the equipment necessary to maintain […]
Mankind versus Machine #2 The robotic arm is over the calibration rock Jake_ Matijevic. It is sometimes said that you need a trained scientist-astronaut on the surfaces of Mars and other Solar System bodies to extract the maximum science return, but looking at Curiosity and its robotic arm in operation I’m not so sure. You […]
Mankind versus Machine #1 We have taken a break to watch the JPL flypast of the Shuttle Endeavour as it is brought on the back of a Boeing 747 to Los Angeles. The last time I saw Endeavour was at Cape Canaveral, Florida, prior to the MSL launch in November 2011. At that point Endeavour […]
The image shows the shadows of Curiosity’s robotic arm and mast approaching our calibration rock. We are entering an important new phase in our mission when we routinely deploy the instruments on the arm.
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